Clamp device



w. A. JENNINGS CLAMP DEVICE Filed April 27, 1946 April 4, 1950 Patented Apr.- 4, 1959 CLAMP DEVICE William A. Jennings, Des Moines, Iowa, assigner to Economy Forms Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application April 27, 1946, Serial No. 665,456

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to clamp devices and in particular to a device for clamping metal forms, for a concrete structure, having outwardly extended marginal flanges through which the clamp deviceis extended to hold the forms rigidly together.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved clamping device for metal concrete forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clamp device for metal concrete forms which is adapted to utilize the spring or resilience in the metal forms to positively clamp the forms together against separation by the usual jars and shocks resulting from a tamping or agitating of the concrete mixture within the forms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp device for metal concrete forms, which is of a construction such that the clamp is releasably locked with the forms concurrently with its movement to a form clamping position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamp for metal concrete forms which is of a simple design, economical to manufacture, eicient in operation, and capable of being easily and quickly positioned on and removed from the forms with a minimum of time and effort.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a clamp for metal concrete forms which is integrally formed with a lever having three longitudinally spaced form-gripping jaws. A pair of the jaws are in a common plane, and a third jaw is transversely offset from such pair of jaws at a position intermediate the pair of jaws. The jaws are successively engageable with the forms and coact to spring the engaged portions of the forms therebetween to firmly hold the forms against separation.

Yet another feature of this invention is found in the provision of a clamp device, for metal concrete forms having outwardly extended flanges, which has a lever integrally formed with a plurality of flange-gripping jaws. When the clamp is in a clamped position the lever has a portion inclined outwardly away from the outer.

edges of the form flanges whereby the clamp is removable from the forms by merely striking against the inner side of the inclined lever portion.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of usual type metal :concrete forms having outwardly extended pe- 2 ripheral flanges showing clamp devices of this invention in assembly relation therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clamp of this invention in a clamped position with the forms;

Fig. 3' is a view illustrated similarly to Fig. 2 showing the clamp in an initial assembly position on the forms;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrated similarly to Fig. 2 showing the clamp in a partly assembled position on the forms;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View as seen along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the clamp looking downwardly on the clamp as viewed in Fig. 2.

With reference to the drawings the clamp of this invention, designated generally as ID, is illustrated in Fig. l in assembly relation with metal concrete forms, of a substantially square box shape, and composed of a resilient or spring sheet metal material, having a base or bottom II and a peripheral ange I2 extended outwardly at substantially right angles to the base l I. The flange is formed with two peripherally extended rows of openings I3 and lll spaced laterally of the flange and with the openings I3 and i4 arranged oppositely from each other.

The clamping device Ill (Figs. 2 and 6) is integrally formed with a body or lever member' I6 havingan extension il which constitutes a jaw in the clamping device. A xed pin I8 laterally extended from the free end of the jaw or extension Il is adapted to be received in an opening I3. As clearly appears in Fig. 2 the jaw l'i is inclined outwardly and away from the side I9 of the lever I6, which side will hereinafter be referred to as the inner side.

A second jaw 2l is extended laterally from the inner side I9 of the lever i6 at a longitudinally spaced position from the jaw l1 and within the plane of the jaw I'l. In other words the jaws I'I and 2| and the lever I 6 are in a common plane. The second jaw 2l is inclined towards the jaw I1 and the free ends of these two jaws are spaced substantially equal distances laterally from the inner side I9 of the lever so that the jaws are of substantially the same length.

A third jaw 22, longer than the jaws I1 and 2 I, is positioned intermediate the jaws I'l and 2| but is offset transversely from the lever I5 in a plane parallel with the plane of the lever It. It is contemplated that the distance between the inner surfaces of the jaws I1 and 2|, and the jaw 22, be slightly less than the combined thickness of a pair of adjacent flanges I2 on the metal forms, when these anges are in a back to back relation against each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

In the use of the clamp I the pin I8 is initially inserted through a pair of aligned openings I3 in a pair of adjacent form flanges I2, while the lever I6 is in a position substantially normal to the form base II as illustrated in Fig. 3. At this position of the clamp, the free end of the jaw 22 is adjacent to or in contact with the outer edge of the flange indicated as I2a in Figs. 2 and 5. The pin I8, supported in a pair of aligned openings I3, constitutes a fulcrum for the clamp device to provide for its pivotal movement into a clamping position relative to the flanges I2 and |211..

On a pivotal movement of the lever IB in a clockwise direction about the pin I8, as viewed in Fig. 3, the intermediate jaw 22 is moved along one side of the ange I2a so that the anges I2 and I2a are initially received between the jaws I'I and 22 before the jaw 2| is moved into contact engagement with the outer edge of the flange I2, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

When the lever I6 is pivoted in a clockwise direction from its position in Fig. 4 to its position in Fig. 2, the jaw 2I is moved over the flange I2 until the outer edges of the iianges I2 and I2a are engaged by the under side of the transverse offset portion 24 of the intermediate jaw 22 (Figs. 2 and 6). As the jaw 2| moves over the flange I2, the flanges I2 and I2a are sprung between the three jaws I'I, 2I and 22 to provide for a spring holding action of the flanges I2 and I2a by the jaws, The spacing of the three jaws longitudinally of the lever I5 acts to hold the flanges against transverse tipping movement within the jaws. To facilitate the springing of the flanges by the jaws, the jaws 2I and 22 have their free ends of a tapered construction to more readily provide for their passage over the sides of the flanges.

The clamp is releasably locked in a clamping -position by the provision of a lug or slightly raised portion 26 (Figs. 5 and 6) extended laterally from the inner side of the intermediate jaw 22 and spaced from the pin I8 a distance substantially equal to the distance between a pair of adjacent openings I3. The raised portion 26 is of a size and shape adapted to be received within an opening, indicated as I3a, next adjacent to the pair of aligned openings I3 through which the pin I8 is inserted. The outer peripheral edge of the raised portion 26 is of a rounded or beveled shape to facilitate the movement of thev portion 26 into and out of the opening I3a.

Thus when the clamp is in its position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the frictional force required to remove the raised portion 26 from the opening I3a provides a frictional lock for releasably maintaining the clamp in a clamped position on the form flanges I2 and I2a. It is apparent, of course, that the jaw 2I could also be relatively arranged on the lever I6 so as to be provided with a locking lug, similar to the lug 2B, adapted to be received in an opening I3b next adjacent to the opening I3a for the lug 26.

As best appears in Figs. 1 and 2, the lever I6, when the clamp I0 is in a clamped position, is inclined outwardly from the pivot I8 and away from the outer edges of the flanges I2 and I2a. In order to remove the clamp, therefore, it is only necessary to strike against the inner side I9 of the lever with a hammer or the like to completely free the jaws from the flanges I2 and I2a. When it is considered that a large number of clamps are generally used for holding the metal forms together, the time saved by this removal of the clamps III will be appreciated, as contrasted to the present practice of removing clamps by prying the lever away from the anges.

From a consideration of the above description it is seen that the invention provides a clamping device for metal forms having outwardly extended flanges, which is adapted to positively clamp a pair of adjacent forms together, by springing the flanges on the forms between three jaws, two of which are positioned in a common plane, and with the third jaw being offset from such common plane and positioned intermediate the pair of jaws. The clamping device and at least one of the form anges have coacting portions for frictionally locking the clamp in a clamped position concurrently with its movement into a clamped position. Further the lever for the clamp is adapted to be inclined outwardly away from the metal forms, so that the clamp is easily freed from the forms by merely striking the clamp lever with a hammer.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A clamp device for metal concrete forms including a lever member having a irst jaw member at one end, a fulcrum laterally extended from the free end of said first jaw, a second jaw arranged in a longitudinally spaced relation with and in the plane of said iirst jaw, and a third jaw oset laterally from said rst and second jaws and arranged opposite the space between said first and second jaws, with the width of said third jaw being less than the width of the space between said rst and second jaws.

2. A Clamp device for metal concrete forms having flanges adapted to be arranged flat against each other having a series of longitudinally spaced aligned openings therein, said clamp comprising a lever member integrally formed ywith three jaw members, a pair of which are in the plane of said lever member, with the third jaw member being arranged in a longitudinally spaced relation between said pair of jaw members so as to be opposite from and within the confines of said space longitudinally of the clamp device, a laterally extended portion at the inner end of said third jaw member arranged and constructed to provide for said third jaw member being offset laterally from said pair of jaw members a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said flanges, a fulcrum laterally extended from one of said pair of jaw members and receivable within a pair of aligned flange openings, said jaw members and lever member being relatively constructed such that upon reception of the fulcrum in said pair of aligned openings, said lever member is pivotally movable in one direction to provide for the successive movement of said three jaw members into frictional engagement with said flanges to a clamping position defined by the engagement of said laterally extended portion with the outer edges of said ilanges, with the free end portion of said lever in said clamping position being inclined outwardly from the outer ends of said anges at an angle to provide for its pivotal movement in an opposite direction in response to the application of a striking force laterally on said free end portion.

3. A device for clamping together metal concrete forms having resilient flanges adapted to be arranged flat against each other and having series of longitudinally spaced aligned openings therein, said device comprising a lever having one end portion constituting a first jaw, a second jaw projected from said lever in the plane of said first jaw, a third jaw arranged between said first and second jaws so that the distance laterally between said two jaws and said third jaw is substantially equal to the combined thickness of said flanges, and a fulcrum extended laterally from adjacent the free end of said rst jaw and across the plane of said third jaw, said fulcrum being adapted to be received in a pair of aligned ones of said flange openings, said jaws being relatively spaced and constructed to successively engage said flanges on pivoted movement of the device about said fulcrum to its clamping position, with said anges, during said pivotal movement, being reversely sprung between said first and second jaws by said third jaw to provide fior ,l their frictional engagement with said jaws. at

said clamping position.

WILLIAM A. JENNINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATNTS 

